How to Cite a Journal Article in American Chemical Society (ACS)
To cite a journal article in ACS, give the authors surname first with initials, the article title, the CASSI-abbreviated journal name in italics, the year in bold, the volume in italics, and the page range, with the DOI at the end. ACS was designed around the chemistry journal article, so this is its core format.
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How to cite a journal article in ACS step by step
- List authors with initials. Give each author surname first with initials, separated by semicolons, the form ACS uses for author lists.
- Add the article title. Include the article title in title case where your ACS journal requires it, as some ACS journals omit it.
- Abbreviate the journal via CASSI. Italicize the journal name and abbreviate it using CASSI, the Chemical Abstracts Service Source Index.
- Bold the year, italicize the volume. Put the publication year in bold and the volume number in italics, an ACS typographic signature.
- Give the page range. Add the starting and ending page numbers after the volume.
- Add the DOI. End with the DOI, which ACS expects on recent articles as the permanent identifier.
ACS journal article citation format
An ACS journal reference runs authors, title, italic abbreviated journal, bold year, italic volume, pages, DOI. In the numeric system the in-text marker is a superscript or italic number; in the author-date system it is an author and year.
Common journal article citation variations
Does ACS require the article title for a journal citation?
It depends on the journal. Some ACS journals include the article title and others omit it, so follow the target journal style.
How do I abbreviate the journal name in ACS?
Use the CASSI abbreviation, not your own. The generator applies the standard CASSI short form when you enter the full journal name.
How do I cite an article with many authors in ACS?
List all authors, or use et al. after the first author when your journal sets a cap. Names are separated by semicolons.
Where does the DOI go in an ACS journal citation?
The DOI appears at the end of the reference. ACS treats it as the stable link, preferred over a journal URL.
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Journal Article citation FAQ
Why is the year bold and the volume italic in ACS?
It is an ACS typographic convention: the year is set in bold and the volume number in italics to make them quick to scan.
Does ACS use superscript numbers?
In its numeric system, yes. ACS also offers an author-date system, and journals specify which to use.